Whale Watching · WHALE SHARK SNORKELING

The 15 Best Whale Shark Snorkelling Trips

31 tours  ·  from $79 a head

Whale sharks are fish, they are enormous, and they are approachable in a handful of places. The 15 below cover Isla Mujeres, La Paz, Cebu and Donsol, with prices, water time and a straight answer on which sites feed the animals.

La Paz Whale Shark Snorkeling Tour and Lunch From Los Cabos - Looking for whale sharks in their feeding area
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La Paz Whale Shark Snorkeling Tour and Lunch From Los Cabos

1.La Paz Whale Shark Snorkeling Tour and Lunch From Los Cabos

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,066 reviews · 10 hours (approx.) · from $259Our pick

Ride from Los Cabos to La Paz, board a panga, and snorkel beside migrating whale sharks with guides such as Mario and Joe. Your $259 includes hotel transport, wetsuit, gear, drinks, and Baja-style fish tacos. Plan for an early, active day and possible weather or wildlife cancellations.

“Should be aware there is a good chance this will be canceled due to low whale shark activity. We had the misfortune of being up for a 6am pick up, register and wait in Cabo marina for an hour to find out it was canceled. Still haven't received my refund. Not ideal 😕”

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Whale Shark Adventure in Isla Mujeres and Cancun - Why the small group matters
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Whale Shark Adventure in Isla Mujeres and Cancun

2.Whale Shark Adventure in Isla Mujeres and Cancun

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 951 reviews · 6 hours (approx.) · from $155

Swim with whale sharks near Isla Mujeres from May through September on a six-hour boat trip capped at 10 people. Felipe, Lolo, and other certified guides manage short, regulated water turns, with snorkeling gear, drinks, snacks, lunch, and pickup from Cancun, Riviera Maya, or Playa del Carmen.

“It was great ! The tour operator was one hour late but it didn’t matter , the experience was awesome ! I took Bonnibe ( anti motion sickness ) and it saved me . Others were puking right and left I happened to have anti nausea meds on hand so I could help ease the suffering but it was t a cure . The captain and Joshua were awesome . The maneuver tech boat right in front of the whale sharks mouth . It was awesome ! Then a great ceviche lunch !”

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Whale Shark Tour from Cancun, Playa del Carmen, Tulum and Riviera Maya - The speedboat ride north to the whale shark grounds
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Whale Shark Tour from Cancun, Playa del Carmen, Tulum and Riviera Maya

3.Whale Shark Tour from Cancun, Playa del Carmen, Tulum and Riviera Maya

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 929 reviews · 6 to 10 hours (approx.) · from $199

Leave early for a small-group boat trip to Cancun’s seasonal whale shark grounds. Guides such as Dory, Pia, Diego, and Vanessa help you swim safely with these gentle giants, then serve ceviche near Playa Norte. Expect a long day, rough water, sun, and nature on its own schedule.

“Our tour guide Daniel was a lot of fun. We saw so many whale sharks from the surface as well as in the water. It was a perfect day and by going very early in the morning you still have the rest of the day after the tour to enjoy another activity this is really a once in a lifetime bucket list thing to do.”

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Swim with Whale Sharks in the Ningaloo Reef: 3 Island Shark Dive - Starting with a reef snorkel
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Swim with Whale Sharks in the Ningaloo Reef: 3 Island Shark Dive

4.Swim with Whale Sharks in the Ningaloo Reef: 3 Island Shark Dive

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 919 reviews · from $444

Spend about eight hours on Ningaloo Reef, following a spotter plane to whale sharks and stopping to snorkel with turtles, manta rays, dolphins, and more. Three Islands supplies gear, meals, drinks, a safety tender, hotel transfers, and underwater photos, with a maximum of 20 people aboard.

“Amazing experience! The crew was dynamic, competent, interesting and friendly. All day was very well organized and respectfull for the whale sharks and their environment. Thank you!”

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Whale Sharks Small-Group Tour in Cancun and Riviera Maya - Hotel pickup from Cancun, Playa del Carmen, Tulum, and Riviera Maya
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Whale Sharks Small-Group Tour in Cancun and Riviera Maya

5.Whale Sharks Small-Group Tour in Cancun and Riviera Maya

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 916 reviews · 8 hours (approx.) · from $160

Set out from Puerto Xtabay with a bilingual naturalist guide and a small boat group of up to 10 participants. Watch for whale sharks, swim beside them in pairs, then stop near Playa Norte for ceviche, sandwiches, and a swim. Pickup covers major Cancun and Riviera Maya hotels.

“Nice experience to swim ( very shortly) with this beautiful animal. Hotel pick up was perfectly on time, sea was quite rough and after a few days of rain in that area, it was extremely hard to find whale shark due to fact that plankton was not at surface, so whale sharks also not at surface, but finally, after long cruising, they found one and we were happy to have chance to swim with one, even it was very short due to presence of many other boats”

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Cebu City: Whale Shark Swimming & Kawasan Falls Canyoneering - The pre-dawn drive to Oslob
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Cebu City: Whale Shark Swimming & Kawasan Falls Canyoneering

6.Cebu City: Whale Shark Swimming & Kawasan Falls Canyoneering

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 665 reviews · 16 hours · from $124

Start before dawn for a whale shark swim in Oslob, then continue to Badian for lunch and three hours of canyoneering. Guides such as Ray, Jordon, Marcelo, and Ronaldo are praised for safety and photos, while the long drive and possible two to three hour wait require patience.

“Had a phenomenal time Canyoneering, my guide Johnrey, did an amazing job helping me through the canyon, waterfalls, lakes, rivers, cliffs and trails. I had so much fun and he took some great photos! Zip lining was a blast! Felt like I was flying’s highly recommend. Whale shark swimming was fun, but there were a lot of people. The boatmen were very helpful and took some nice photos. Driver was good, but transportation was rough, especially sitting in the back of the van. Be ready for a long car ride - bring snacks, a book, music, portable charger, bug spray.”

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Whale Shark snorkeling tour in a reduced group with local marine biologist - What the boat ride and briefing are like
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Whale Shark snorkeling tour in a reduced group with local marine biologist

7.Whale Shark snorkeling tour in a reduced group with local marine biologist

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 594 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $190

Meet in central La Paz for a roughly three-hour whale shark trip with no more than eight people. A marine biologist such as Angel, Carla, or Karen explains the rules, then guides small groups through several surface swims. Wetsuits, gear, refreshments, permits, insurance, and GoPro footage are included.

“Angel was a fantastic guide, providing us with a fantastic encounter with the whale sharks. Alejandro was a great captain, putting is in perfect position for multiple chances to see the whale sharks. It was a once in a lifetime experience, an absolute must do!”

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Whale Shark Encounter Full-Day all inclusive Tour from Riviera Maya - Punta Sam and the early morning start
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Whale Shark Encounter Full-Day all inclusive Tour from Riviera Maya

8.Whale Shark Encounter Full-Day all inclusive Tour from Riviera Maya

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 519 reviews · 7 hours (approx.) · from $170

Leave your Cancun or Playa del Carmen hotel early for a small-group boat trip to the whale shark zone. You’ll swim in 15-minute rounds, snorkel near Isla Mujeres, and eat ceviche on Playa Norte. Guides such as Jane and Dory are praised for calm help in the water.

“Our tour was rescheduled a couple of times and ultimately canceled due to a combination of weather and the fact that there had not been any recent whale shark sightings in the days leading up to the tours. I wanted to leave a positive review since the company handled it so well. I was initially apprehensive to book since I was worried we would spend all day on a boat and not see anything. Because they were keeping track of recent reports, we ended up being able to see lots of other things in Mexico and it got refunded quickly once we cancelled. I recommend booking your tour early in…”

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Whale Shark Swimming and Isla Mujeres Beach Tour - The early run to Punta Sam
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Whale Shark Swimming and Isla Mujeres Beach Tour

9.Whale Shark Swimming and Isla Mujeres Beach Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 399 reviews · 4 to 5 hours (approx.) · from $210

Join Contoy Adventures for an early boat trip from Punta Sam into the whale shark protected area. You swim in pairs with a guide, usually two or three times, then stop at Playa Norte for ceviche and beach time. Guides such as Herbert, Angel, Manuel, and Xavier have earned special praise.

“We booked the trip on Viator based on the reviews the company had we either got a bad day or the reviews are not quite what they seem We where staying in Rivera maya which meant the transfer was nearly 2 hours so pick up at 05.20 it’s hard enough getting 4 kids out of bed for that time but the transfer was 20mins late with no apology When we eventually got to the dock to get on the boat it was well organised and lots of people were put on boats quickly and efficiently The Boat was clean but small no toilet just 12 people on the not plus…”

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Intimate Eco-Friendly Whale Shark Encounter - Premium Service - The ride into the whale shark zone
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Intimate Eco-Friendly Whale Shark Encounter – Premium Service

10.Intimate Eco-Friendly Whale Shark Encounter – Premium Service

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 392 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $268

Meet at The Dock Cafe in La Paz for a three-hour whale shark outing limited to seven people. Your English-speaking guide fits you with a wetsuit and snorkel gear, explains sanctuary rules, and helps you swim beside whale sharks two or three times when conditions allow. Photos, video, snacks, and drinks are included.

“Great staff and amazing Sharks. Do this tour. You won’t regret it. Katlin was an amazing guide who knew her sharks and answered all our questions. If you are cruising, do this trip!!!!”

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Cancún: Swim with Whale Sharks - The main event: snorkeling beside whale sharks
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Cancún: Swim with Whale Sharks

11.Cancún: Swim with Whale Sharks

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 380 reviews · 7 - 7.5 hours · from $160

From May to September, join EcoColors Tours for a small-group whale shark trip from Cancún. Guides such as Omar, Arturo, Naara, and Alex lead the snorkel sessions, with lunch, drinks, gear, and a swim near Isla Mujeres included. Dolphins, turtles, and manta rays may appear along the way.

“They guys were absolutely lovely and explained everything and OMG we’ve seen quite few whale sharks such an amazing experience swimming with them, although I was a bit scared at first! I’d go back and do it again 😊”

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Cebu: Oslob Whale Sharks, Tumalog Falls & Sardine Snorkeling - The 2:00 AM pickup and the road to Oslob
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Cebu: Oslob Whale Sharks, Tumalog Falls & Sardine Snorkeling

12.Cebu: Oslob Whale Sharks, Tumalog Falls & Sardine Snorkeling

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 343 reviews · 10 hours · from $106Best value

Leave Cebu around 2:00 to 3:00 AM for Oslob’s whale shark encounter, Tumalog Falls, and Moalboal’s sardine run and turtle snorkeling. Breakfast, lunch, gear, entrance fees, and hotel transfers are included. Private tours make good sense for groups of four or more.

“The best tour guide ever. Rudeal Yab is kind, patient and went out of his way for us. We did the whale shark, Waterfall and sardine run tour he was on time to pick us up at 2 am and we were dropped off at 8:30 pm.. he was happy for us to take our time and guided us where we needed to go throughout the day. He’s a great communicator and was quick to respond when I messaged him on WhatsApp. I highly recommend Rudeal for your Philippines excursions.”

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Cebu: Whale Shark Swim and Kawasan Canyoneering Tour - Oslob at sunrise: whale sharks and a difficult ethical question
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Cebu: Whale Shark Swim and Kawasan Canyoneering Tour

13.Cebu: Whale Shark Swim and Kawasan Canyoneering Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 318 reviews · 1 day · from $106

Start with a 2 a.m. to 3 a.m. pickup, reach Oslob for a guided whale shark swim, then head to Badian for 3.5 hours of river trekking, swimming, slides, and optional jumps. Local guides such as Arnel, Norbert, and Oslan help with safety and photos. Lunch and hotel transfers are included.

“It’s a lot of driving and a lot of waiting around but it’s so worth it. The whale sharks are amazing and the canyoning was the scariest and best experience of my life. If you don’t like heights, it won’t be for you. It’s very challenging physically but it was worth it!”

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Cebu: Oslob Whale Sharks, Moalboal Sardine Run & Turtles - Before sunrise: the ride to Oslob
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Cebu: Oslob Whale Sharks, Moalboal Sardine Run & Turtles

14.Cebu: Oslob Whale Sharks, Moalboal Sardine Run & Turtles

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 266 reviews · 10 - 14 hours · from $113

Start before dawn with a guide such as Mae, Ken, or Norvina, then meet whale sharks in Oslob and snorkel with turtles and sardines in Moalboal. Transport, equipment, fees, towels, showers, and water are included. Expect a 10 to 14-hour day with plenty of road time.

“Wow. Genuinely what an amazing day. The biggest thanks to Mae and Glenn for an experience I will truly never forget. They were the kindest and made sure the whole day was run smoothly, start to finish! I’ll be in awe of this for a very long time to come 🥹💛”

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Swimming with the Whale Sharks - Ningaloo Reef (Exmouth) - How the whale shark search works
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Swimming with the Whale Sharks – Ningaloo Reef (Exmouth)

15.Swimming with the Whale Sharks – Ningaloo Reef (Exmouth)

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 172 reviews · from $451

Spend about 6 to 8 hours aboard Ningaloo Blue from Exmouth, with two or more guided snorkel sessions, reef wildlife, lunch, gear, and hotel transport. Whale sharks are sought from April to August, humpback whales from September to November. Crew members Brad and Spencer have been praised for their calm, friendly guidance.

“A great day out with plenty of sightings/ swims with whale sharks and even a close encounter with a humpback whale and calf! Particularly lucky to have had smooth seas and little wind. All making it a fantastic day.”

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New in Whale Shark Snorkeling

★ 4.7Cebu: Whale Shark Oslob and Moalboal Snorkeling AdventureFrom $11916 reviews
★ 4.3Playa del Carmen: Whale Shark TourFrom $19552 reviews
★ 3.9Oslob: Whale Sharks, Tumalog Falls & Sumilon Trio AdventureFrom $1037 reviews
★ 4.7Oslob: Whale Shark Tour with Sumilon & Moalboal SnorkelingFrom $818 reviews
★ 4.3Cebu Oslob: Whale Shark Watching ExperienceFrom $8632 reviews
★ 3.8Cebu: Oslob Whale Shark Swimming and Tumalog Falls TourFrom $7916 reviews
★ 4.6Oslob: Whale Sharks, Inambakan Falls & Moalboal SardinesFrom $13217 reviews
★ 4.8Cebu:Whale Shark, Waterfall, and Sardine Run Group Tour+MealFrom $1074 reviews
★ 3.8Cebu: Whale Shark Swim, Kawasan Falls & Sardine RunFrom $1355 reviews
★ 4.5Cebu: Oslob Whale Shark and Moalboal Snorkeling TourFrom $11717 reviews

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